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![]() Saturday, July 24, 1999 Published at 10:45 GMT 11:45 UK ![]() ![]() Sci/Tech ![]() GM crop test row ![]() The government says GM trials are conducted under strict guidelines ![]() The UK Government has denied there is to be an unannounced expansion next year in the amount of land planted with genetically-modified (GM) crops. Environmental campaigners said they had discovered plans for a large increase in the planting programme, which was much larger than expected.
But food safety minister Jeff Rooker said extra research needed to be carried out in realistic farming conditions. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the current test sites were "essentially to establish the methodology for monitoring in subsequent years. "The government announced in April that for next year there would be 20 sites for the three crops of maize and the two types of oil seed rape," he said. The government would work on 25 sites on the basis that there would be "20 good ones".
Genewatch spokeswoman Dr Sue Mayer said a company developing a new form of oilseed rape resistant to herbicide intends increasing the area of farmland involved in trials. 'Wild crops could be harmed' Opponents of GM crops fear the test crops could affect plants growing in the wild.
No GM crops are grown commercially in the UK, although the government could decide to let companies do so from next year. However, there is growing pressure on ministers to delay a decision until the end of the trial period. But it is not just the testing of GM crops that has caused concern.
It says the unit will "manipulate the media" to get across a positive message on GM technology. The shadow minister who signed the letter is Andrew Lansley. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that there was a distinction between ministers, who argue for their policy, and civil servants, "whose job it is to provide information". "What worries me in particular about this is that we have civil servants from the Cabinet Office appearing to fight for a policy rather than simply the provision of information," he said. ![]() |
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